Three-dimensional molding sign and method of fabricating same

ABSTRACT

A three-dimensional molding sign which can be inexpensively produced from flat stock and folded on score lines to produce a three-dimensional sign with one end portion anchored in molding and a second end portion displaying information, the second end portion being parallel to the end portion in the molding and connected thereto by an intermediate portion which projects outwardly therefrom.

United States Patent Greenberger 451 Dec. 19, 1972 [541 THREE-DIMENSIONAL MOLDING SIGN AND METHOD OF FABRICATING SAME [72] Inventor: William Greenberger, White Plains,

[73] Assignee: The Hopp Press Incorporated, New

1 York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: March 22, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 126,824

[52] US. Cl ..40/l24.l [51] Int. Cl ..G09f l/00 [58] Field of Search ..40/l24.l, 16,125, 126 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,720,044 10/1955 Montalto ..40/l6 2,777,231 1/1957 B011in ..40/126 A 2,902,176 9/1959 Wathen ..40/124.1

3,411,228 11/1968 Lacey ..40/124.1 3,423,860 l/l969 Berry et a1. ..40/125 R X Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras Attorney-Kane, Dalsimcr, Kane, Sullivan and Kurucz [57] ABSTRACT A three-dimensional molding sign which can be inexpensively produced from flat stock and folded on score lines to produce a three-dimensional sign with one end portion anchored in molding and a second end portion displaying information, the second end portion being parallel to the end portion in the molding and connected thereto by an-intermediate portion which projects outwardly therefrom.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED BEE 1 9 I97? 3. 706. l 50 THREE-DIMENSIONAL MOLDING SIGN AND METHOD OF FABRICATING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a three-dimensional molding sign for use on market shelves and the like.

The great expansion in recent years of self-service markets has resulted in a need for a simple and clear yet attractive means for conveying information such as price and identification to store patrons. In these stores where products are sold directly to the consumer the goods for sale are generally placed on shelves or in bins and the customer can remove the item which he desires to purchase from the shelf or bin. Most store managers consider it desirable to indicate the item for sale at a location with its name and price so that shoppers can easily find the item and know the price involved.

Since items for purchase are located on shelves and in bins of various configurations, a variety of indicating devices have been developed. An indicating device of this type, in order to be useful, must be easily mounted on readily available mountings within a store and be so designed that the price designation and the item designation can be easily changed when a different item is placed in the bin or on the shelf or the price changes.

Moldings of the type wherein upper and lower facing channels are provided for receipt of a tag giving price or product information are utilized in stores of this type. The tag generally is inserted in the molding so that it does not project outwardly from the molding.

It has been found useful to provide signs which can be attached to the molding but which project outwardly in a three-dimensional effect. Such signs, to be useful for the purpose involved, must be inexpensive and readily inserted and removed from the moldings without the utilization of special tools and by unskilled personnel.

SUMMARY OF-THE INVENTION A three-dimensional molding sign formed out of sheet material including in combination an anchor portion of the sign, upper and lower parallel edges of the anchor portion adapted to be received within facing parallel channels of the molding, an intermediate portion of the sign attached to a side of the anchor portion and folded at a first score line perpendicular to the upper and lower edges to project outwardly at an angle with the anchor portion, a display portion of the sign attached to the front edge of the intermediate portion and folded at a second score line so that the display portion is parallel with the anchor portion whereby a three-dimensional sign is provided from flat stock.

A method of forming a three-dimensional molding sign from flat stock including first providing suitable flat stock material, cutting and printing on one side of the material in a single operation to provide a flat sign having anchor, intermediate and display portions, forming parallel score lines at the zones whereat the intermediate portion is connected to the anchor and display portion and then folding along the score lines so that the display portion is parallel to the anchor portion whereby a three-dimensional sign is provided from flat stock.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank of flat stock with the sign which is the subject of this invention printed thereon and cut therefrom;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sign after removal of the excess flat stock material and with score lines applied; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sign in its completed condition folded along the score lines and mounted in position within a store molding.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The sign which is the subject of this invention as illustrated in FIG. 3 is shown to have three principal portions. The anchor portion is designated by the numeral 10 and the display portion is designated by the numeral 12 while the intermediate portion which connects the display portion to the anchor portion is indicated by the numeral 14.

The anchor portion is flat and substantially rectangular with upper and lower edges 16 and 18 and side edges 20 and 22. The upper and lower edges are substantially parallel and the side edges are substantially parallel providing a rectangular portion. The intermediate portion 14 is connected to edge 20 of the anchor portion at score line 22 which allows the intermediate portion to be bent at a right angle to the anchor portion so that the intermediate portion 14 can project forwardly and perpendicular to anchor portion 10. The score line 22 is along edge 20 and parallel to edge 22. A notch or cut-out 24 which is provided in the anchor portion at upper edge 16 extends into edge 20 effectively removing a corner of the anchor portion, and the upper edge 26 of the intermediate portion is connected to edge 20 of the anchor portion by an arcuate edge 28 which joins with the side of notch 24. The lower edge 30 of the intermediate portion is connected to edge 20 by a lower arcuate edge 32 to provide a graceful joint and also provide strength in the vertical plane in the zone of joining.

The intermediate portion 14 extends outwardly from the anchor portion 10 and the arcuate surfaces 28 and 32 provide a strengthened zone for supporting intermediate portion 14 in the vertical plane since the intermediate portion in turn supports the display portion 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the anchor portion is maintained within molding 34 attached to store shelf 36. The molding is provided with facing upper and lower channels 38 and 40 which respectively receive the upper and lower edges 16 and 18 of anchor portion 10. The presence of notch 24 in the anchor portion allows the upper edge 16 to seat properly within channel 38.

The display portion 12 is connected to the intermediate portion 14 at score line 42 which is parallel to score line 22 and which allows the display portion 12 to be bent at a right angle to the intermediate portion and lie parallel with the anchor portion when the anchor portion is within the molding 34. In certain displays it may be desirable to have the display portion and anchor portion parallel with the intermediate portion forming angles with these portions at other than The provision of parallel score lines 22 and 42 allows this to be easily accomplished.

The display portion has a lower edge 44 and side edges 46 and 48 projecting upwardly therefrom at right angles therewith. An upper edge of the display portion indicated by the numeral 50 is provided and this upper edge lies in the same horizontal plane as does the upper edge of the intermediate portion which upper edge is indicated by the numeral 26. An additional side edge 52 connects edge 46 and edge 50 and a further side edge 54 connects edge 48 and score line 42 at the lower end thereof.

The sign may be formed of any suitable material and one of the advantages of my invention is that the threedimensional sign shown in FIG. 3 can be produced from flat stock such as cardboard, heavy paper, plastic and even thin metal where such would be desired.

In FIG. 1 a piece of flat stock is shown and indicated generally by the numeral 52. This flat stock is substantially rectangular in configuration and in producing the sign of my invention the blank 52 is subjected to a printing and cutting operation, preferably a single operation, wherein indicia can be placed upon the various portions of the proposed sign such as the word BUY on the display portion and the PRICE on the anchor portion as illustrated in FIG. 1. The outline of the sign is cut from the blank to produce the flat sign shown in FIG. 2. A scoring operation is then performed to provide the score lines 22 and 42. In certain operations it might be desirable to perform both of these steps in the same operation so that in a single operation printing, cutting and scoring is accomplished. The sign in its flattened condition can be stored and shipped and then, of course, stored at the point of receipt until it is desired to use it. This is another advantage of the invention in that the ultimate three-dimensional sign is provided in two dimensions for storage and shipping thereby reducing the volume required for these functions and, of course, adding to the economy of utilization of the invention. 1

1 claim:

1. A three-dimensional molding sign formed out of sheet material including in combination an anchor portion of said sign, upper and lower parallel edges of said anchor portion adapted to be received within facing parallel channels of a molding, an intermediate portion of said sign attached to said anchor portion and folded at a first score line to project outwardly therefrom in a vertical plane and at an angle with said anchor portion, upper and lower arcuate edge portions joining said intermediate portion to said anchor portion with said lower arcuate edge portion extending below the lower edge of said intermediate portion to provide strengthening in the vertical plane, a notch in said anchor portion at the upper edge thereof extending into the upper edge of said intermediate portion effectively removing a corner of said anchor portion to allow the upper edge of the anchor portion to be received within a molding, a display portion of said sign attached to the front edge of said intermediate portion and folded at a second score line so that said display portion and said anchor portion are in parallel planes whereby a three-dimensional sign is provided from flat stock. 

1. A three-dimensional molding sign formed out of sheet material including in combination an anchor portion of said sign, upper and lower parallel edges of said anchor portion adapted to be received within facing parallel channels of a molding, an intermediate portion of said sign attached to said anchor portion and folded at a first score line to project outwardly therefrom in a vertical plane and at an angle with said anchor portion, upper and lower arcuate edge portions joining said intermediate portion to said anchor portion with said lower arcuate edge portion extending below the lower edge of said intermediate portion to provide strengthening in the vertical plane, a notch in said anchor portion at the upper edge thereof extending into the upper edge of said intermediate portion effectively removing a corner of said anchor portion to allow the upper edge of the anchor portion to be received within a molding, a display portion of said sign attached to the front edge of said intermediate portion and folded at a second score line so that said display portion and said anchor portion are in parallel planes whereby a three-dimensional sign is provided from flat stock. 